The newly appointed Minister of Defence, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has assumed office with a pledge to prioritise the modernisation of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), improve the welfare of personnel and strengthen the country’s preparedness to respond to emerging security threats.
He said the changing security environment, marked by violent extremism, terrorism, transnational organised crime, cyber threats and instability in the Sahel, required the country to rethink its defence strategies and strengthen the capabilities of the GAF.
“These developments demand that we think and plan differently and prepare differently.
The defence sector must remain responsive to this changing environment.
We must continuously review and strengthen our doctrine and strategies,” he said.
Mr Adjei made the pledge when he officially assumed office as the substantive Minister of Defence at a handover ceremony at the ministry in Accra last Friday, marking the end of the tenure of the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, as the caretaker of the minister.
The transition was formally completed through the signing of the relevant handover documents by the two ministers.
Mr Adjei was reassigned from the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Defence Ministry as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s government reshuffle announced on Friday, August 7.
Modernisation
Mr Adjei said modernisation of the Armed Forces would go beyond the acquisition of new equipment and platforms, stressing the need to invest in personnel, maintenance and logistics systems, technology and capabilities suited to emerging threats.
“Modernisation must, therefore, remain an important part of our agenda.
This should not simply be about acquiring new platforms and equipment.
It must also involve investing in our personnel, improving maintenance and logistics systems, embracing technology, and ensuring that our capabilities respond to emerging threats,” he said.
He further pledged to deepen cooperation between the GAF and other national security agencies, as well as strengthen the country’s regional and international security partnerships.
“The security challenges confronting the country and our sub-region increasingly transcend national boundaries and institutional mandates.
No single institution and, indeed, no single country can effectively address these challenges alone,” he said.
Open-door policy
Mr Adjei, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence between 2015 and 2017, said he would operate an open-door policy and rely on the professional advice of officials and personnel within the ministry.
“I intend to maintain an open-door policy that encourages frank, professional, and constructive engagement at all levels.
I will, therefore, welcome counsel and contributions from the Deputy Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Chief Director, Directors, Officers, and civilian staff because every meaningful contribution towards advancing the work of this ministry and strengthening our armed forces deserves to be heard,” he said.
The new minister also paid tribute to his predecessor, the late Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, who died alongside other government officials and military personnel, describing the incident as a painful chapter in our national history.
He said the best way to honour the deceased was to continue the work to which they had dedicated themselves.
Mr Adjei also expressed appreciation to the outgoing caretaker Minister of Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, for his leadership of the ministry following the death of Dr Omane Boamah.
Strategic shift
Dr Ato Forson also called for a change in the country’s strategic defence posture, arguing that the future of defence should become more technology-led and intelligence-driven.
“The future of defence cannot remain manpower-heavy. It must become technology-led, intelligence-driven and agile,” he said.
While welcoming Mr Adjei and expressing confidence in his ability to lead the ministry, citing his previous experience in the defence sector, the Finance Minister also urged personnel of the Armed Forces to preserve their professionalism and discipline and remain loyal to the Constitution and the country.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, said the ministry looked forward to working under Mr Adjei’s leadership to advance the government’s agenda of safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity, improving the welfare of military personnel and modernising the GAF.
Mr Genfi said Mr Adjei’s previous experience as Deputy Minister of Defence gave him a strong understanding of the operations and needs of the ministry and the GAF.
